Comparative Study on Parameter Estimation of Deployable Flexible Structures for Space Application

Abstract

This paper describes the numerical simulation approach for dynamical parameter estimation of deployable flexible structures for space application using the direct deployment analysis and three estimation algorithms. The elastic deformation under two-dimensional deployment due to structural flexibility is formulated by use of the finite element approach. Out of three estimation algorithms, the first is the sensitivity analysis that is based upon the sensitivity between the dynamical parameters and the deployment behavior. The second is the genetic algorithm by which evolution of the creature is imitated. The last is the artificial neural network in which the nonlinear mapping is formed between the dynamical parameters and the deployment behavior by learning. As a result of numerical simulations based on the proposed estimation algorithms, it was recognized that estimation of dynamical parameters is basically available and effective for the deployable structure which consists of a spacecraft main body and two deployable flexible links stowed on the side wall of the spacecraft. It is considered that, out of three estimation algorithms, the genetic algorithm is most effective in the category of this kind of estimation problem.